Dene Halatau
Encyclopedia
Dene Halatau is a professional rugby league
footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League
(NRL). A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played club football for the Wests Tigers
, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership.
since 2004. Halatau played at lock forward for the Wests Tigers
in their 2005 NRL grand final
victory over the North Queensland Cowboys
. He played for New Zealand in the 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
. He also went on the 2007 All Golds tour
, playing against Great Britain at hooker. In August 2008, Halatau was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. Halatau was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team which defeated Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
In August 2009, Halatau signed a 3 year deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs commencing in 2010.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL). A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played club football for the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership.
Bipgraphy
Halatau is of Niuean descent. He has been selected for the New Zealand national rugby league teamNew Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
since 2004. Halatau played at lock forward for the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
in their 2005 NRL grand final
2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
victory over the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He played for New Zealand in the 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
. He also went on the 2007 All Golds tour
2007 All Golds Tour
The 2007 All Golds Tour was conducted as part of the celebrations of a century of rugby league in New Zealand. It was a re-creation of the original New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain in 1907. The New Zealand Kiwis toured Great Britain and France playing four test matches. They lost the...
, playing against Great Britain at hooker. In August 2008, Halatau was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad. Halatau was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team which defeated Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
In August 2009, Halatau signed a 3 year deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs commencing in 2010.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: Round 13, Wests Tigers v Manly at Leichhardt Oval, 8 June 2003
- Premierships: 2005 (West Tigers v North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland CowboysThe North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
)